Always A Lesson's Empowering Educators Podcast Gretchen Bridgers | Education Podcast Network

Dive into insightful conversations with Michael and Nita Creekmore, seasoned educators with over 35 years of combined experience. Join them as they explore the importance of relationships in education, drawing from Michael's counseling background and Nita's instructional coaching expertise. Get practical tips, personal anecdotes, and wisdom from their book, Every Connection Matters.Tune in for actionable strategies, balancing career and family life, and fostering meaningful connections in and out of the classroom.

Quotables

*All quotables are from the interviewee 

“When you’re building relationships, you have to build trust, and the more you build trust, the more you can...get into [the] why. What is the root behind this?”
"...compartmentalize! That's one of the necessary tools to avoid burnout..."
”That’s one of the by-products of having the biggest hearts...we take a lot of stuff home.”


About Michael & Nita
Michael and NIta Creekmore are a married couple both with more than 35 years combined in the field of children and education. Micheal has been in the field of professional counseling for about 16+ years and in school counseling for 5+ years. Nita has been in education for 19+ years. She has been an Instructional Coach for 5+ years and facilitates learning experiences with other educators. Nita and Michael have 4 children and a pup. Together they have Creekmore Conversations in which they facilitate learning experiences around the importance building, maintaining and restoring relationships in education. Together they wrote, Every Connection Matters: Building, Maintaining and Restoring Relationships Inside the Classroom and Out. They have very productive life inside and outside of education. They love what they do. They love having a large family. And, they also believe that having a healthy balance of it all is so important.
Listen to Episode 218 which is when we first interviewed Nita in 2020!
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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College


Gretchen's latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.
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This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.

Welcome to a special bonus episode of Empowering Educators! In this episode, we discuss how to enhance student learning. Discover how to help educators improve their skills and foster a more effective learning environment!



Quotables:

"Each district and school operates so differently and especially as to how they use a teacher leader, aim for, and their name for the role..."
"I teach the Triple A Method: aim, action, and achieve..."
"Most important is the evidence...how do you know that you're moving forward?"
"If you support the growth of teachers, you are a teacher leader and you can participate!"


Join the Teacher Leader Mastermind

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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: Always A Lesson
Twitter: @gschultek
Instagram: Always.A.Lesson
Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers
Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College


Gretchen's latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.
Leave a Rating and Review:
This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2

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Join us as we unravel the remarkable journey of Angela Watson, a powerhouse in education and expert in the incorporation of AI in the classroom. With over a decade of classroom experience, Angela's transformational insights have touched the lives of millions of educators worldwide.

Quotables

*All quotables are from the interviewee 

[When we think about AI, we ask] “How is this going to help me streamline my workload? It’s not going to do everything, but how can I make it really useful and how can I do it in an ethical manner?”
"The trick to getting really good results from AI is to know how to give it good prompts."
”Productivity is something we all have to experiment with!”


About Angela:
Angela Watson is a National Board Certified Teacher with a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has 11 years of classroom experience and over a decade of experience as an instructional coach.

Angela created this website as a young teacher in 2003 to share practical classroom ideas and help other educators build a positive mindset so they can truly enjoy their work. It was originally called “Ms. Powell’s Management Ideas for Teachers” until 2008, when it was renamed “The Cornerstone for Teachers” after her first book.

Rebranded in November 2021 to Truth for Teachers, the site now impacts over 8 million educators annually.

Angela’s ideas have been featured in thousands of magazine articles, newsletters, and internet resources, and utilized in teacher preparation and support programs throughout the nation. She has authored numerous printable curriculum resources, online courses, and six books. Her newest book is the second edition of “Awakened: Change Your Mindset to Transform Your Teaching,” which was released in November 2022.

She is perhaps best known for her free Truth for Teachers podcast, which provides bi-weekly encouragement for educators and consistently ranks in the top K-12 podcasts in the world.

Angela’s professional development on productivity is being used in over 45,000 schools through the 40 Hour Workweek program. First designed for teachers and then expanded to instructional coaches and administrators, 40 Hour helps educators become more intentional with their personal, contractual, and instructional time so they can focus on what really matters.

Angela’s mission is to help teachers live a more purposeful and conscious life. Through her mentorship, countless teachers have learned to take charge of their time and energy so they can prevent burnout and stay in the profession they love for years to come.
Listen to Episode 155 which is when we first interviewed Angela in 2018!
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Connect with Gretchen

Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com
Blog: Always A Lesson
Facebook: a href="https://www.facebook.com/AlwaysALesson/"...

Don't miss this enlightening episode with Gretchen as she delves into the realm of tech integration in education. Discover invaluable tips for effectively assessing the level of student engagement versus mere compliance when utilizing tech tools in the classroom.
In this episode, Gretchen shares practical planning strategies and essential considerations to enhance your instructional practices and ensure that lessons are accessible to all students, regardless of their learning styles or abilities.
Unlock the power of technology to foster genuine student engagement and facilitate meaningful learning experiences. Tune in now for expert insights that will revolutionize your teaching approach and empower you to create inclusive and impactful lessons!
As highlighted in this episode, Gretchen's latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon. Dive into this invaluable resource for a wealth of additional insights on increasing student engagement and fostering academic success!

Quotables
“We couldn’t finish the Engagement Series without touching on technology, because a lot of what folks think engagement is includes some sort of tech activity or game...”"...really it's less about check the box, I used tech today, and more about when I use tech it makes all the difference in student understanding."”We can’t assume that every tool is going to produce the same high levels of engagement.”
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Connect with GretchenEmail: gretchen@alwaysalesson.comBlog: Always A LessonFacebook: Always A LessonTwitter: @gschultekInstagram: Always.A.LessonLinkedin: Gretchen Schultek BridgersBook: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in CollegePre-Order: Always a Lesson
Leave a Rating and Review:This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2
Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher.Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in infoLeave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcastClick ‘Send’

Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Naomi Hall, also known as The Recovering Educator, as she shares invaluable insights on navigating the challenges of being an educator. Naomi reminds us that while the teaching profession can be stressful, there are numerous factors within our control that can positively impact our well-being.
In this episode, Naomi offers practical strategies for managing stress and reclaiming control over various aspects of our professional and personal lives. Discover how to effectively address the stressors inherent in education and cultivate a healthier, more balanced approach to teaching.
Tune in to empower yourself with tools and techniques to navigate the demands of the teaching profession with resilience and grace. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from Naomi's expertise and embark on a journey towards greater well-being and fulfillment in your career!
Quotables
*All quotables are from the interviewee 
It’s that recognition of; there are external stressors and there are internal stressors...and I have to work on the internal stressors and mindsets that contributed to my burnout.I'm not the only educator struggling with burnout. I'm not alone in this.”I don’t know who I am without students, lessons...without a classroom.”
About NaomiNaomi has spent years learning how to manage stress, prevent burnout, and make a comeback from burnout...and now she's teaching others. She offers realistic stress management techniques that are important to your effectiveness and happiness in your classroom. She works to help educators be their best and provide the support you need. Learn more about Naomi atMy goal has never been to leave education. It has been to help educators be their best and provide the support school districts forget to give you.Learn more about her at https://www.therecoveringeducator.com/
Connect with Naomi:Instagram and Facebook: naomihallfiteducatorEmail: therecoveringeducator@gmail.comYouTube: The Recovering Educator
Join the Always A Lesson NewsletterJoin here and grab a freebie!
Connect with GretchenEmail: gretchen@alwaysalesson.comBlog: Always A LessonFacebook: Always A LessonTwitter: @gschultekInstagram: Always.A.LessonLinkedin: Gretchen Schultek BridgersBook: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in College
Gretchen's latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon.
Leave a Rating and Review:This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.
a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2"...

Let's talk TRANSFORMATION with Gretchen as she explores the art of leveraging student engagement through the integration of student voice. Uncover actionable tips and straightforward techniques that empower you to immediately enhance classroom dynamics and amplify student participation. Tune in now to discover the keys to unlocking greater engagement and fostering a dynamic learning environment!
In this episode, Gretchen shares a compelling story that underscores the importance of student involvement in the learning process. Learn how to amplify student voices effectively and create an inclusive classroom environment where every student feels heard and valued.
As highlighted in this discussion, Gretchen's latest book, Always a Lesson: Teacher Essentials for Classroom and Career Success, is now available on Amazon. Dive into this invaluable resource for a wealth of additional insights on increasing student engagement and fostering academic success!
Don't miss out on this enlightening episode that promises to revolutionize your teaching approach and inspire meaningful connections with your students. Tune in now and embark on a journey towards greater student empowerment!

Quotables
If we don't nail engagement, then we've really let students down...we've really minimized their future success because we're limiting the amount of knowledge and skills they can acquire.Student voice is gonna look different for each of your students, depending on what their needs are.There were so many tiny ways throughout the day that students could exercise their voices.
Join the Always A Lesson NewsletterJoin here and grab a freebie!
Connect with GretchenEmail: gretchen@alwaysalesson.comBlog: Always A LessonFacebook: Always A LessonTwitter: @gschultekInstagram: Always.A.LessonLinkedin: Gretchen Schultek BridgersBook: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn’t Teach You in CollegePre-Order: Always a Lesson
Leave a Rating and Review:This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long-lasting effect on our future.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2
Search for my show on iTunes or Stitcher.Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in infoLeave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcastClick ‘Send’